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Ex-Hain official denies 'chaos' | Ex-Hain official denies 'chaos' |
(31 minutes later) | |
A former senior aide to Peter Hain has denied that his Labour deputy leadership campaign was "chaotic". | A former senior aide to Peter Hain has denied that his Labour deputy leadership campaign was "chaotic". |
And Phil Taylor blamed his successor as campaign manager for a failure to declare donations properly. | And Phil Taylor blamed his successor as campaign manager for a failure to declare donations properly. |
Mr Taylor, who was replaced by Steve Morgan, says all donations were declared properly to the Electoral Commission while he was in charge. | Mr Taylor, who was replaced by Steve Morgan, says all donations were declared properly to the Electoral Commission while he was in charge. |
Mr Morgan had earlier said he was brought into the Neath MP's campaign "to bring order to the chaos". | Mr Morgan had earlier said he was brought into the Neath MP's campaign "to bring order to the chaos". |
Mr Hain, who is Welsh Secretary and Work and Pensions Secretary, said he blamed "administrative failings", which he described as "deeply regrettable". | Mr Hain, who is Welsh Secretary and Work and Pensions Secretary, said he blamed "administrative failings", which he described as "deeply regrettable". |
Although he declared donations of £82,000 for the campaign, the Guardian newspaper claimed the real figure may be more than £100,000. | Although he declared donations of £82,000 for the campaign, the Guardian newspaper claimed the real figure may be more than £100,000. |
Responding to claims of chaos, Mr Taylor told BBC Wales: "Not on my watch. | Responding to claims of chaos, Mr Taylor told BBC Wales: "Not on my watch. |
I just cannot understand what went on in that campaign Phil Taylor, former Peter Hain aide | I just cannot understand what went on in that campaign Phil Taylor, former Peter Hain aide |
"By the time I left we'd received legally and had declared £37,000 of donation and we hadn't received a single penny in donations that was not declared at the time I left, so there was no chaos of any kind." | "By the time I left we'd received legally and had declared £37,000 of donation and we hadn't received a single penny in donations that was not declared at the time I left, so there was no chaos of any kind." |
Mr Taylor said: "I just, in all conscience and honesty, couldn't stay on board with the campaign and work with Steve Morgan. | Mr Taylor said: "I just, in all conscience and honesty, couldn't stay on board with the campaign and work with Steve Morgan. |
"It gives me no pleasure to say but the things that are becoming public now in a way vindicate that feeling I had at the time. | "It gives me no pleasure to say but the things that are becoming public now in a way vindicate that feeling I had at the time. |
"This was a minefield and a territory I wanted to keep close to my chest and manage myself. | "This was a minefield and a territory I wanted to keep close to my chest and manage myself. |
"As soon as it became clear I wouldn't have total control over that area of the campaign, that combined with my concerns over the direction of the campaign, meant that I felt no option but to leave." | "As soon as it became clear I wouldn't have total control over that area of the campaign, that combined with my concerns over the direction of the campaign, meant that I felt no option but to leave." |
Peter Hain (right) eventually lost the contest to Harriet Harman | Peter Hain (right) eventually lost the contest to Harriet Harman |
Mr Taylor, who worked in government with Mr Hain at the Wales and Northern Ireland Offices, decided to break his silence after hearing Mr Morgan's interview with BBC Radio Wales. | Mr Taylor, who worked in government with Mr Hain at the Wales and Northern Ireland Offices, decided to break his silence after hearing Mr Morgan's interview with BBC Radio Wales. |
Mr Taylor, a former special adviser, added: "You know it's widely believed there were a number of donations made during that period in June that weren't declared. Now I can't prove that. I don't know that. | Mr Taylor, a former special adviser, added: "You know it's widely believed there were a number of donations made during that period in June that weren't declared. Now I can't prove that. I don't know that. |
"We need to wait and see what the campaign actually says when they finally publish their list of results. | "We need to wait and see what the campaign actually says when they finally publish their list of results. |
"But I think it's inconceivable to suggest that the person who ran the campaign throughout that period didn't know that donations were coming in and failed to declare them." | "But I think it's inconceivable to suggest that the person who ran the campaign throughout that period didn't know that donations were coming in and failed to declare them." |
Mr Taylor said he knew Mr Hain "incredibly well" and "the Peter I know would have had nothing to do with any of this." | Mr Taylor said he knew Mr Hain "incredibly well" and "the Peter I know would have had nothing to do with any of this." |
'Fully cooperative' | |
"He is one of the most straightest, honest, decent men that I have ever met and I just cannot understand what went on in that campaign," he said. | "He is one of the most straightest, honest, decent men that I have ever met and I just cannot understand what went on in that campaign," he said. |
He insists Peter Hain should not be blamed for the failure to declare donations but acknowledges that as the candidate he is legally responsible. | He insists Peter Hain should not be blamed for the failure to declare donations but acknowledges that as the candidate he is legally responsible. |
"What I'm clear about is that there won't be any guilt attached to Peter personally," he said. | "What I'm clear about is that there won't be any guilt attached to Peter personally," he said. |
"You and I both know that politics doesn't work like that and we'll just have to wait and see what the fall-out is when it becomes public about the donations that weren't declared." | "You and I both know that politics doesn't work like that and we'll just have to wait and see what the fall-out is when it becomes public about the donations that weren't declared." |
On Tuesday, Steve Morgan said there was a "truism" that he was brought in half way through Mr Hain's campaign "to bring order to the chaos". | On Tuesday, Steve Morgan said there was a "truism" that he was brought in half way through Mr Hain's campaign "to bring order to the chaos". |
Mr Morgan told BBC Radio Wales: "The issue here is not that anybody is trying not to disclose things but how will all of us manage with donations that come into a campaign after the campaign has officially closed down. | Mr Morgan told BBC Radio Wales: "The issue here is not that anybody is trying not to disclose things but how will all of us manage with donations that come into a campaign after the campaign has officially closed down. |
"Peter has been very open about this whole process, more so than most and I think he's been fully cooperative with the Electoral Commission over some of these key issues, which none of us have experienced before, donations in kind being one of them." | "Peter has been very open about this whole process, more so than most and I think he's been fully cooperative with the Electoral Commission over some of these key issues, which none of us have experienced before, donations in kind being one of them." |
Mr Hain apologised for failing to register some of the donations given to his Labour deputy leadership campaign. | Mr Hain apologised for failing to register some of the donations given to his Labour deputy leadership campaign. |
He said he blamed "administrative failings", which he described as "deeply regrettable". | He said he blamed "administrative failings", which he described as "deeply regrettable". |
Although he declared donations of £82,000, the Guardian newspaper claims the real figure may be over £100,000. | Although he declared donations of £82,000, the Guardian newspaper claims the real figure may be over £100,000. |
Mr Hain said he had undertaken a full audit and would be providing the details to the Electoral Commission of late declarations by the middle of January. | Mr Hain said he had undertaken a full audit and would be providing the details to the Electoral Commission of late declarations by the middle of January. |
"I reiterate that this is deeply regrettable and I sincerely apologise," he said. | "I reiterate that this is deeply regrettable and I sincerely apologise," he said. |
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